MOTORING WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 52, 28 January 1933, Page 10

MOTORING WORLD

NOTES. Two-seater taxicabs, which take up muoh less road space than the ordinary vericies, are being introduced in Rome.

A prominent 'research engineer in England is using compressed coal gas stored in metal containers on a car. In Berlin doctors have been authorised to carry an extra lamp on tho mudguards of their cars showing a red cross on a green background. Although there is a decided improvement in 1933 “utility” motor cycles, there is not the slightest indication of a decline in the new “sports” class. Important advancements toward solving the problem of commercial production of petrol from coal are reported to have been effected by research workers in England. “Horns play very little part in giving warning, for one side always say they sounded their horn and the other that they never heard it,” says an English Judge. Smoking while driving is forbidden in Czecho-Slovakia, while under another regulation adult passengers in excess of the number of seats provided in a car may not be earned. Detectives in England are being encouraged to become expert drivers. In the future it is hoped that all important police stations will have cais which will he at tho disposal of detectives to expedite their work. LAND SPEED RECORD. “BLUE BIRD” REBUILT. An attempt to break his own world’s land speed record of 253.9 milca an hour will bo made early this year by Sir Malcolm Campbell, at Daytona Beach, Florida. In preparation for the event, Sir Malcolm lias had his giant car almost entirely rebuilt, and it is anticipated that, if the boacli eondi-

tions are favourable, ho will attain a considerably higher speed. In its latest form, “Blue Bird” is vastly different from the car that holds the record at present, having been redesigned by Mill.. A. Rail ton, a prominent British engineer. Tlie Napier aero engine lias been replaced by a Rolls-Royce Schneider Trophy typo motor, developing 2500 brake liorse-power, and in consequence a new type of streamlining lias been adopted, to suit the different shape oftho now engine. The Rolls motor, however, develops nearly 1000 brake horsepower more than the Napier engine, and so any slight increase in head resistance clue to tho different shape of tho engine cowling should bo more than compensated for by the additional power available. The heavy chassis has been lengthened, and the radiator, which was previously carried on outriggers, is now supported on extensions to tho front dimibii-ons, integral with the chassis side members. The detached snout, which was previously a feature of the car, is no longer in ovidence, the radiator cowl joining tho engine cowling at tho. top. After passing through the radiator, the air- will escape through two louvres, one on each side of the ongino cowhiig. The air intake for the centrifugal blower is situated immediately behind tho radiator, and it is expected that the speed of the car will give a boost worth about two pounds of supercharging.

Tho front axle is arranged in much the same manner as previously, being mounted in a phosphor-bronze trunnion hearings carried on massive springs. The double shock-absorbers, however, are now mounted at right-angles to the position employed earlier. The clutch, which is 1 particularly light in operation, includes secrets of design which enable it to transmit about 2600 brake horse-power, and is mounted separately between the engine and tho gearbox. There are three speeds, while the final drive is oif-set to give the driver a particularly low seating position. The well-known Dewandro system of

braking is employed, while Jhe cated steering is controlled by , paratively small spring-spoked ■ The overall length of the car, when it is ready for the track, will be tho wheelbase being 13ft Bm. h e track is sft wide, being 3m niorowe than that at tho front. Tho cai <= about four and a half tons’, and fitted with disc wheels. ' SOME TERMS EXPLAINED. Tho castor-action in tho steering » its natural tendency to .maintain, front wheels in the straight comse it is obtained by tilting the .jdeenng pivots backwards. By inclining stub axles so that the wheels lean outwards, when viewed from /the iront, self-centring action is obtained that wiu bring the wheels back to the stiaight from any diversion. A boss is a circular projection used to strengthen a component wheio 1 shaft or pin is fitted. For example, i a piston there are two bosses, diagonally opposed, wherein the gudgeon pm | is carried. . .* , ~ ■, j A helical gear is a pinion, ov toottiea 'wheel, having teeth of curved or screw-; thread formation. This' type givco smoother running than a straight-cut pinion. , , . The harmonic balancer, known niso as the Lanchester balancer, is a special j an’angement of gear-driven out-oi-balanco drums, caused to rotato at twice crankshaft speed. The weighted drums set up forces’ wliioh counteract the vibrations caused by the reciprocating parts of an engine. SPEEDY CARS. If speed be the essence of the con- j tract, manufacturers of new cars ex-; hibated at tho Olympia Show in London bavo fulfilled their obligations. Latest reports from London state that the exhibits include:— Nine cars capable of speeds over 100 miles an hour; a dozen or so capable of 90 miles an hour, including one that

is being mass-produced at under £300; and a largo number of standard touring cars' in the medium-priced market that will do 80 miles an hour. FRENCH DESIGN. A general decision on the part of French motor cycle designers to drop futurist ideas for the time being and concentrate on the improvement of standard models was apparent at the last Paris show. The shaft drive boom of 1929 seems to have collapsed, the outstanding feature of the show being the great improvement nr the utility machine, particularly the “bicyclette a moteur.” These little outfits were to be found on almost every stall, two and sometimes three-speed gearboxes, chain drive, spring forks, and a propel braking system being included in the general specifications. COMFORT AND SAFETY. After taking possession of a new motor cycle it will probably be found that the footrests and handlebars require adjustment to suit the particular rider By securing comfort the new rider will have done much toward assuring his future motor cycling pleasure. It is, as a matter of fact, dangerous to ride a machine on which one is ill at ease and after a little experiment the most comfortable position for the various controls will be found. USE FOR CARBON MONOXIDE. Carbon monoxide, the deadly gas which is generated by motor car engines, is now being put to a practical use by an American chemist. A recent development has shown that this gas may be used to extract the pure ifietal from nickel or®, or from any other base in which nickel can be found., J.he process may also be used to obtain iron from ore in the form of a fine powder which is so pure that it can be used as a medicine without further purification.